there aren't really any modern LCD that aren't well-suited for photo editing anymore. The contrast ratios and resolutions today are all more than sufficient.

From a photographer's standpoint there are some special-purpose monitors in existence the are extraordinarily well-suited. Some come from LaCie and have a very very hefty price-tag, but an expanded color gamut that covers the whole sRGB spectrum..and then some.

Refresh rates (in your case 2ms) is a gerat deal more than required for photo-editing, but if you're a gamer you will appreciate this fast refresh rate.

The challenge with LCDs in this "everyman" price range, is the "color truancy"...essentially how well the color you see on the screen corresponds to the color you will get on a print. If you print yourself, it could be useful to get a color-calibration kit (ColorMunki for example) and perform a calibration between your monitor and your printer.

But if you are like me and have your prints done externally (I love the $3 18X12 inch prints from CostCo for example), then you do not have control of any consistency and there for a visually based calibration is just fine. Look at your prints side by side with the same image on the monitor and perform adjustments as needed - just be aware that looking at images on a monitor is more like looking at slides - they are backlit. Prints show reflected light.

I've no doubt the monitor you've picked out will be great and unless you want to spend in excess of $1000 on a monitor-solution, the adjustments you can make by visual inspection should serve you very well.

thanks a ton!
i just don't want to overpay for something that isn't superbly important. i am starting to get the hang of photo editing and thought that if i could find something cheap it might be worth the few hundred dollars. there's no chance i would even consider buying a $1000 monitor unless i win the lottery. but thanks for the info. much appreciated

not sure about my own prints. i think i will most of the time unless i need large prints (thanks for the costco idea! theres one right by my house) but most of the time i will just be doing regular sizes (4x6, etc.)